Founding father of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Alhaji Yusif Ibrahim, has congratulated Dr. George Elombi on his appointment as the new President of the continent’s leading trade finance institution.

The ceremony, held in Cairo, Egypt, on 25th October 2025, marked the official handover of leadership from Professor Benedict Okey Oramah, who ended his decade-long tenure as President and Chairman of the Bank’s Board of Directors.

The event attracted over 2,000 high-profile guests, including African Heads of State, government leaders, former presidents, and prominent business executives such as Aliko Dangote.

Alhaji Yusif Ibrahim, one of the Bank’s pioneering investors and visionaries, was honoured for his foundational role in the establishment of Afreximbank. He described the moment as a celebration of continuity and progress, expressing confidence that Dr. Elombi will consolidate the Bank’s gains and drive Africa’s trade and industrialisation agenda further.

Afreximbank, established to promote intra- and extra-African trade, currently boasts a balance sheet and guarantees portfolio of about US$44 billion. Over the years, the institution has become a key player in financing trade and development projects across the continent.

Professor Oramah’s decade of leadership was credited with expanding the Bank’s capital base, strengthening its continental partnerships, and deepening Africa’s integration into global markets.

Dr. Elombi’s presidency is expected to focus on innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation in African trade finance